Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerRangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist blocks a shot by the New Jersey Devils in the second period of their win over the Devils Thursday.Devils coach Jacques Lemaire was ready for the second-guessing.

After the Devils had lost, 4-3, to the Rangers and all three of his choices had failed to score in the shootout, Lemaire was asked why Ilya Kovalchuk remained on the bench.

The answer? Kovalchuk was 2-for-7 in shootouts this season and 9-for-36 in his career.

“If I had to do it again, maybe he’d be first because the other three guys didn’t score,” Lemaire said sarcastically. “It’s easy after the fact. I’d put Kovy first or even Motts (defenseman Mike Mottau). Jamie was next and Kovy was after that.”

Lemaire went with Zach Parise, Patrik Elias and Travis Zajac.

“I think if it goes to four or five shooters, maybe,” Kovalchuk said. “We have a lot of great shooters. It’s totally the coach’s decision.”

Indeed, Jamie Langenbrunner would've been next and then Kovalchuk.

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Before the tying goal from the Rangers, Patrik Elias took the faceoff with Chris Drury.

The Rangers had pulled goalie Henrik Lundqvist for an extra attacker.

"I was trying to get it out (of the zone)," Elias said. "They were set up with three guys on Drury's backhand. Even though I lost it, we jumped in it."

Eventually, Drury scored on a pass from Erik Christensen with 16.5 seconds left.

"It's too bad because we had control of the game," Elias said.

Lemaire said: "We shouldn't be there (in that predicament) at the end of the game when they pull the goalie. We had enough chances. We felt good about the game. We could've run away with the game easily. Their goalie was great."

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The Devils outshot the Rangers, 38-31.

New Jersey went 0-for-3 on the power play while the Rangers went 1-for-3.